So, yesterday I got to send my twice yearly email in which I explain to the person who does the scheduling in the department that the days of the week on which I teach are not negotiable. Or, rather, if someone wants to change the days of the week on which I teach, then that’s fine, but then I am going to stop serving on the most stressful, most time-consuming university-wide and college-wide committees, which meet weekly on a particular day/time. A day/time that I would like to work with my teaching schedule and with my research obligations, as opposed to against those things. No, Colleague, I am not willing to be on campus five days per week when I am also
a) doing really crappy service (which, incidentally, no one else will do, and it was difficult for them even to find a temporary replacement for me during my sabbatical this semester).
b) teaching a night class.
c) teaching an online class.
d) teaching four preps.
No, Colleague, I will not take one for the team. If there is a problem with the schedule on the days of the week that I’ve requested for my teaching schedule, then that means that you will have to ask one or more of the people who do not do a, b, c, or d to change their schedules. I know. You think that I’m a real bitch for expecting you to earn the course releases that you get for doing the schedule. I know those other people are mean, and you don’t want to confront them. I understand that you’d rather get “nice” people like me to do what you want, than force the “mean” people to do something that they don’t want to do. Except, um, no. I say no. I’ve actually said no for four semesters. In a row. Perhaps you could make a note of it to yourself? Because seriously? If I need to explain this one more time, I might fucking lose my mind. Or slap you until you see that you need to stop asking me to change my schedule around to accommodate people who don’t fucking do as much as I fucking do. If those people want my schedule, then they can have my committee work. It’s really not that difficult.
Tough situation. Our old assistant Dean (scheduler) somehow found a way to screw up my schedule every. freaking. semester. When i complained, I was the one being the asshole … really? I think there was some professional jealousy issues going on, as we were colleagues but s/he somehow felt threatened by me. Zie left a year ago and I have never been happier. Maybe have a sit down with this person and talk things over? Something I never did …
I’ve talked to this person about it, and I’ve talked to my chair about it. The issue is not that I haven’t talked about the problem. (If it were, I never would have posted this on the blog.) Actually, I think that’s what’s so frustrating: you can only explain the same thing so many different ways before you realize that the issue isn’t that you’re not being clear about your needs but rather that nobody actually cares about your needs.
Whatever. I’m not actually worried about it, in that the worst case scenario – they change my schedule around – will result in me refusing to do the time-consuming service. I’ve made that clear. So, in some ways, I dare them. ‘Cause that will make their lives a lot more miserable than if they just give me the schedule that I request.
How would they respond to a ‘third copy’ note on the written explanation? Not that I’m passive-aggressive or anything…
I am so glad that you’re holding firm and making sure that your needs are met.
Scheduling, gah!
I’m sorry the scheduler isn’t doing a better job.
I’m back on our departmental scheduling committee, and that’s also frustrating. But it’s a LOT better doing it with a committee because we tend to advocate for the schedules our colleagues have asked for, and with several sets of eyes, we see different ways to do stuff more.
Good for you!
Flexible up to a point. Sometimes the other folks are going to need to budge too, or they’re going to have to do more committee work. That’s just the way it is. Stay strong!
(Imagining the conversation)
Dr. C: “So you can’t move my classes to accommodate the Stressful Committee?”
Scheduler: “No, I’m afraid not.”
Dr. C: “Great! I’ll be resigning from it beginning in January and will put your name in as a replacement.”
Heh. We don’t have a scheduling committee. We all request our schedules, then the registrar decides in mysterious ways no one understands. For next fall, we were told that no more than 40% of our classes could be on Tues/Thurs, and no more than 40% in “prime time’ — 9-3. And that we had to use MWF.
It’s great to watch a rebellion of faculty, though I wish it were not quite so self-centered.
[...] it’s about her schedule! Read on: So, yesterday I got to send my twice yearly email in which I explain to the person who [...]
Love this post, Dr. Crazy. I put up a little response over at my place.
Was this person e-mailing about NEXT semester, or next fall? Because if this is about next term, this person should be fired from hir job as scheduler. Our courses are scheduled a year in advance, although there may be some necessary shuffling around. But seriously–if someone wrote to me about classes starting next month, I would seriously lose my $hit.
NOT next semester – Fall. Which, given that fact, I wouldn’t even be annoyed by this if it weren’t for the fact that I have this conversation with this person every. single. semester.
I have a feeling that what this person is going to respond to me is “but given the new realities of the schedule, we can’t guarantee anybody particular days of the week,” and then I will respond, “Oh, how interesting, since I don’t see x, y, or z person being asked to change their schedules…. maybe I should just step down from Crappy Committees anyway so that I’ll be sure I won’t be screwed over?” and then all of a sudden I’ll get the schedule that I need.
And if that happens? I’m going to give my chair an earful because this is EXACTLY what I spent an hour in his office discussing as a HUGE issue related to morale just one week ago.
Oh, Dr. Crazy, I feel your pain. Our schedules are done at the department level but there’s increasing interference from above. Plus, add in all new levels of fun (every class meets 2xweek, some on mismatched slots Monday/Thursday or different times on Tuesday and Thursday). Plus, a program has to use every single timeslot (including 8 night slots) before you can put a second course into a popular slot.
The students are revolting as much as the faculty!
Still, you’re right about the problems of being seen as “nice and cooperative”. We’re the first ones to be asked to sacrifice ourselves while the cranky bastards go on, unconfronted and serene in their ruts. Good for you for pushing back. I’ve done so without serious repercussions and I’ll hope the same results for you.
Wowee, Dr. Crazy. You have to keep us updated on this!
I still think you should insist on being the department scheduler next year.
Historiann, there is no WAY I’d insist on being the scheduler, in that with that duty comes a bunch of other duties I don’t want, plus the obligation to be on campus nearly as much as the chair. Nah, I’d rather do what I can about the schedule procedurally and from the sidelines.
But I will keep y’all posted, though I suspect I can tell you what will happen already: I’ll get the schedule that needs to happen for me to remain on the committees, and then this whole thing will be repeated again when we do the spring schedule, as if everybody except for me has amnesia.